. thinking out loud #48 .

After having to skip out on the randomness last week, it feels extra good to be back at it today!

1. I honestly can’t believe there was a time in my life where I thought that pumpkins were only for carving and squash was only for decor. In my defense, that’s pretty much how things went down when I was growing up — it wasn’t until I discovered healthy living blogs that my veil of ignorance was lifted. All I can say is thank goodness for that.

2. Speaking of decor, I spent some time adding little fall touches to my home last weekend…

I’ve been craving donuts like crazy lately, but finding a place to buy ’em that’s allergy-friendly is a bit of a challenge. I’ve been meaning to pick up a pan so that I can make my own, but I keep forgetting whenever I walk into a store.

4. At least I always remember the cinnamon…

Oh, don’t give me that look — it was on sale! And don’t ask how long those’ll last me for because it’s kind of embarrassing how quickly I go through them…

5. In non food related shopping news, I took a trip to the mall earlier this week…

I didn’t manage to find any coloured skinnies (drat!), but I guess I made out alright 😉 Two sweaters from Old Navy in an attempt to add a little colour to my otherwise black, gray, and brown wardrobe; Humbeline ankle booties from Aldo (thanks for the inspo, Lisa!) because the only boots I had were knee-high; LaVanila deodorant and Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders from Sephorabecause I needed the first and wanted to experiment with the second.

6. Speaking of experimenting, I need to get my butt into the kitchen and start doing some. You know how I mentioned that I’m in charge of dessert for Thanksgiving? Well, it’s right around the corner (Monday for us Canadians), and I still have no idea what I want to make. The problem is that no one in my family is a big fan of pumpkin/pecan pie — myself included. Since that’s basically the epitome of Thanksgiving dessert, I’m kind of at a loss for what else to make. Oh bother.

7. I know I already mentioned this one in my last “Currently” post, but it deserves another shout-out…

1. The image that that conjures in my mind is not a pleasant one.2. Drat it! I knew I was forgetting something the last time I renewed my insurance…3. #truth. iPads and computer games got nothing on couch cushions.4. Mind = blown.5. Can.you.even.imagine… 😯 😯 😯 Beulah Hunter in 1945.

9. Speaking of pregnancy… whoaaaa that’s probably not one of the smartest ways to start a sentence. Before your mind runs away with you, no, I’m not pregnant (you can calm down now Mom… J). What I am is super excited for Tiff, who just had her beautiful baby boy last week! I’ve been reading Tiff’s blog for years, and I literally had a fit when I found out about her surprise birth. I’m not even joking — I was over at my parents’ for dinner and squeed out loud, probably scaring everyone in the process. It’s amazing how close and attached you can become to the people that you spend so much time reading about online. The world is definitely changing…

10.Happy Thursday, friends! Rock its socks off! 😀

. – . – . – .

Did anyone grow up eating squash and pumpkin? Or were you deprived until later in life?
Do you like donuts? What’s your favourite kind?
What’s a good Thanksgiving dessert that’s not pumpkin/pecan pie?

Reader Interactions

Comments

Those heels are AMAZING! Also how cute is Ethan? I’m so excited for Tiff!

I grew up roasting pumpkin seeds with my family and it’s one of my favourite halloween traditions. Maybe this year I’ll be brave enough to actually eat the real pumpkin because my canned purchasing is getting a bit out of control!

I loved seeing this post!:) We are so much alike, it kind of freaked me out! I know we don’t know each other, but you have three of the SAME decorating items I have in our house, I have almost as many fall decorations as Christmas, and those boots- SO ME. Every year I get a new pair of black boots and promise not to get another the next year, yet alas, I do!:) Oh and by the way- that’s my favorite cinnamon brand. It is so good! I go through a container about every three weeks:) I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! I can’t wait to see what you make<3 Blessing!<3

So you only wear brown and black too?? I feel much better! I am trying to add color into my wardrobe as well….BUT it is SO hard for me! So does that deodorant work well??? I have been looking to switch to a more natural deodorant but didn’t know which to choose!! Oh and those booties are FAB!

Well… brown, black, and gray 😉 But yeah, not a lot of colour in my wardrobe. And I’ve been using this brand of deodorant for a little over a year now and I have no complaints. There’s a lot of sketchiness with aluminum in deodorant, so definitely make the switch to a healthier one!

I love all of your fall decorations! The only season I get really into decorating (either my room at school or at home) is Christmas. Hanging up lights and streamers, putting up the tree, listening to Christmas music for weeks on end…for me, there’s nothing better. Donut pans exist?!? Since when?! Ever since my sister and I had elephant ears at the fair over the summer, we decided that we wanted to fry some dough…maybe I’ll ask for a donut pan for Christmas. (You know you’re not a kid anymore when…)

That first random fact temporarily distracted me from all other thoughts related to your post today! haha sooo nasty. Alright back to business.
I ADORE those boots and I bet you look real hawt (why yes I am spelling hot in such a fashion 😉 ) in them! If I wore those shoes, I would be well over 6’1″, aka reaching giant territory. I would only where them if I was going out with someone equally tall
I’m actually not a big fan of pumpkin pie either (surprisingly with all of the other pumpkin/squash love), but what about another kind of pie? Apple perhaps? Or apple bars of some sort with a crumb topping? I will be testing an apple recipe today as a matter of fact, as I am also in charge of dessert on the holiday! Though ours is a bit farther away
I am sure anything you make will be glorious ms Amanda!

I ate so much squash as a small child that my skin pigment took on a yellowish tinge. True story. This is not a myth. I then did not eat squash again until last year!

By the way, I took your bloggy advice and ordered LaVanila deodorant. It’s honestly changed my life!!! I’ll be mentioning it in a blog post soon (i.e.: tomorrow). It’s not here in Australia, and if it weren’t for you, I would never have heard of it. So, a big thank you from me and my armpits. 😛

I never knew people ate pumpkins in anything other than pumpkin pie until I lived in Australia in high school. The family I lived with would cut them up and bake them. They were pretty good! I want a donut pan as well after seeing Ashley’s baked donut recipes all over the blogosphere! Some of my best memories are from my first year in recovery when my boyfriend at the time and I would go get donuts and coffee….chocolate cake and sprinkles for me!

Wow your house is way more decorated than I could ever dream of doing. I don’t know how to make things look good together but I’d say you nailed it Donut pans are awesome. My roommate and I are actually planning on getting one. Right now we just use muffin pans because it means I can eat the hole in the middle 😉

I love your decorations! It reminds me of my style. I am a fan of donuts, but the totally horrible for you kind. I hardly ever eat them, except of vacation! Banana pudding is always a great option for a holiday dessert.

I was so excited to see that Tiff had Ethan too, and glad they are both doing well with the early and pretty scary birth. My mom always made pumpkin bread, and we would eat acorn squash in the winter but I never tried kabocha, or butternut squash until this past year. Crazy I know! Maybe your bread pudding would be a good option for dessert? Or something with apples?

Loooove the heels!!! I actually just packed very similar ones for our business trip today, but with chunky heels. I just love ankle boots.
And it seems like our music taste goes in the same direction. I LOVE that song.
I explained my Mom today how I roast kabocha squash after she saw me on the street carrying 2 huge kabocha squashs and a butternut squash home. So that means I had no idea that you could eat these babies until….get prepared – THIS year. I only ate pumpkin puree last year when entering the blogging world. And don’t forget, I am 35. 34 years without squash. oi.

But you have the excuse of living in Europe! I don’t think it’s as big of a thing over there as it is here, especially with the lack of Thanksgiving. My parents immigrated from Poland a few years before I was born, so I grew up on a pretty traditional European diet — that’s my excuse 😉

Your decor is just beautiful! I can’t wait to have my own place again to decorate it. Hmm maybe I should still decorate my room… sorry you didn’t find the skinnies but definitely keep looking they are worth it
For Thanksgiving, my mom usually makes her full-fledged (aka totally sugar-ladden) apple crumble. It is delicious! I am a big fan of apple desserts. Also Davida posted a recipe for apple crumble bars that look pretty delish.

Love those boots! So cute! I’m making a pumpkin pie for my family’s thanksgiving this weekend so I’m not really of much help. Sorry! Love your random facts, I was all about the lava couches when I was a kid. Haha!

I always make my apple crisp for Thanksgiving – it works as a side or dessert. With a layer of crisp on the bottom and top, you really can’t beat it! I didn’t eat pumpkin or squash as a kid either so don’t feel bad!

What a coincidence you’re mentioning it. I’ve been growing up pumpkin-less, too, always wondering if I was the only one. We didn’t even carve any pumpkins let alone eat them. It was shortly before starting to read blogs that I tried red kuri squash [yes, I still remember the variety] for the first time – and fell for it immediately.
Maybe I can’t vouch for it being a typical Thanksgiving dessert because we don’t celebrate it over here. But you can never ever go wrong with Apple Crumble. We usually sub some of the (white) flour with whole wheat making it one of the few occasions where everybody in my family agrees (a little) ‘healthier’ tastes better, too :).
Oh, and you’d make me feel better if I knew I wasn’t alone in the speed I grow through those cinnamon jars/bags [for me] :).
Also: I haven’t forgotten about the reply to your last mail. It’s coming along :).

So, i’m going to come to see your condo so I can get decoration inspiration (because I reaaaaaaally have no idea what i’m doing for that kinda thing. Right now, the giant tub of sour keys is sitting in the centre of the coffee table basically acting as inspiration, if that’s any indication) and I’ll bring my donut pan and we can bake some fabulous donuts. Deal? I think so.
And I adore those boots!! I have similar ones, but I need new knee-high boots. Must get on that soon. Are the deals decent at Aldo right now? Oh and p.s., your mention of coloured skinnies inspired me to wear my purple ones when I went to school on Tuesday…you need to find yourself a pair, they’re pretty fun :-p
I don’t remember eating squash as a kid either…even sweet potatoes only came out around Thanksgiving when my grandma would make mashed sweet potatoes with a pecan and brown sugar crumble topping (note to self: recreate). Oh blogs, what would I do without you? (not eat nearly as well as I do now, clearly).
Annnnd I’m planning on making an apple cake with a caramel glaze for my family thanksgiving, but I don’t have mine until the 19th.

Believe it or not, I actually picked up a pair of dark green skinny jeans at Smart Set yesterday! They were originally $45 and I got them for $25! Check it out if you have one near you! They also had burgundy and dark blue.

I never ate nor cared for squash or pumpkin until a few years ago. Crazy considering I can’t get enough of both now, and I’m eating squash as a snack these days. I think blogs sparked my interest, but then my mom starting making it more often because apparently her mom was a big squash fan back in the 1950s.
Your decorations look wonderful! I love having my own space to decorate as well.

Yes, having a donut pan is probably one of the most exciting parts about my kitchen life right now lol I adore that little thing.
And I’ve been wanting to try that 3 little wonders business, so let me know how you like it! Sephora has great reviews on it, and I was looking into the night moisturizer I think. My skin just gets crazy dry and red in the winter time so Im looking for something with a bit more ummph for the colder months!

Those boots! UGH, I love the belted look because it makes it look badass. I ate pumpkin seeds and canned pumpkin growing up, but never ate too much squash. I didn’t even know about the tens of thousands of varieties until recently! I don’t like donuts (I know!) but these kind of made my mouth water. Maybe I need to try a good one? I always hate the glazes on the outside. Blech.
We always have coconut cream pie at Thanksgiving along with Pumpkin Pie. You could always try making some sort of Pumpkin Dump Cake or Pumpkin Crumb Cake (on Sally’s baking addiction). OR pumpkin cinnamon rolls? Or a pumpkin roll?!

I saw a recipe on Pinterest for a Sweet potato and Mollasses Buttercream cake. I may do that this Thanksgiving, since my boyfriend’s mom always covers the apple and pumpkin pie. Last year I brought a Snickers Pie, go figure, and it was the hit of the dessert table. I’ve also seen some great blondie recipes– white chocolate maple, and caramel apple….man, I love Pinterest. Bake all the things! 😉

I’m new to your blog but I really liked reading the WoW Facts! #4…..crazy! Or maybe I should say #5. Anyway–I also recently decorated my apartment for fall–little things can make a big difference sometimes. And yes, I was deprived of pumpkin and squash. Thanks mom.

I don’t think I ever have, but it’s pretty simple! I cut my squash in half, scoop out the seeds, cut each half in half, and then slice it into 1′ strips. Then I peel the strips (lots of people leave the peel on, though), put them on a baking sheet, spray with coconut oil, and bake at 425F for about 30 minutes.

Your decorations are absolutely gorgeous! Seriously. I wish I had half that decorative eye. I certainly don’t. One thing about house design that I just can’t get is mixing colors and patterns. I always love how that looks but can never execute on it myself! I’m going to need mad pinterest boards once I get my own real house.

Ooh your boots are super cute, good selection! We used to roast a lot of pumpkin seeds when I was younger, but we didn’t eat a ton of other squash. I like to make pumpkin bars for Thanksgiving. I also like chocolate chess pie- the best!

I’m asking this out of pure ignorance as I’ve only had a doughnut once in my life (don’t think they even existed until quite recently in the part of the world where I come from), but isn’t the whole point of doughnuts that they’re deep fried? I mean, is it still a doughnut if it’s baked in the oven, or isn’t that more like a muffin with a hole in the middle? You know, like when people bake strips of potato (or other root vegetables) in the oven and call them ‘fries’? Or is it the shape that makes doughnuts unique? Please educate an ignorant person from outside of North America…

Never ate pumpkin growing up, my first pumpkin experience was when I moved from Europe to Australia as an adult.

You’re right — I’m pretty sure donuts are meant to be fried, so baking the dough is definitely cheating. But they look like they’d be fun to eat, so as long as they taste good, I can overlook the slightly false advertising 😉

Although I start eating squash long before HLBs, they certainly make me crave them more than before! My love for squash (particularly butternut) started during my Weight Watcher days as it was a “free” food and of course I milked it completely! You got me wanting a donut pan now too! I find the store-bought/Krispy Kreme varieties way too sweet for liking but I would love to turn muffin/cake batter into donuts! Has the Starbucks in your hood introduced the “duffin” (a.k.a. donut muffin) as yet?

Duffin?!? Whaaaat?! No! At least I don’t think so. I admit that I don’t spend a lot of time looking at the baked goods in Bux because they’re not allergy friendly, but I’m liking the sound of these mixed breed baked goods…

odd but for the holidays my mother would make, for dessert, jello salad with huge chunks of fresh fruit & copious amounts of whipped cream (in a can- the spray kind!) we had non pumpkin and non nut eaters in our house but we would always eat jello & fruit!

1. I love your fall decorations. You have great taste.
2. Yes, you HAVE to get a donut pan. I love mine and I just made a new recipe with it.
3. I still have to try the LaVanila deodorant. I’ve heard it’s great.
4. I use Ole Henrisksen’s Sheer Transformation at night and I LOVE it. I also like the vitamin C serum but the green one is just weird.
5. That’s disgusting that we produce that much saliva.
6. Yay for Ethan! He’s so freakin’ adorable.

I can not find these kabocha squashes that everyone is raving about and it’s making me mad! I look every time I am at the grocery store or farmers’ market. Nada, nada, and nada.

That being said, a good friend brought me flowers, donuts, and homemade apple butter the other day to cheer me up after a particularly stressful week. I ended up putting some apple butter on the maple glazed donut. Oh my. SO good!

Just thinking about being pregnant for 17 months makes me cringe. I have a hard time imagining being pregnant for the normal amount of time, let alone almost double! Sheeeesh.

If you find a donut pan and start posting those recipes I’m definitely going to have to invest in one too. I’ve always wanted to but never got around to it. Plus, I like the taste of baked donuts WAY better than the fried version.

I must say, your interior designing skills are quite impressive- love the use of colours there (even it it means its a ‘Fall’ like state most of the year 😉

Thats so funny about the squash as decor thing- I found it so strange reading how people ate it when I was directly looking at one on the living room table! I really wish we celebrated Thanksgiving here in Australia- I love Turkey and the whole ideal behind it is great- although never knew you guys celebrated earlier than the Americans. Maybe its a good excuse to do it twice 😉 A good thanksgiving dessert…just produce a jar of AB, several spoons and say dig in.

You should join the celebration and host a turkey dinner this weekend too, just for the heck of it 😉 And I would totally be fine with the AB and spoons route, but my family doesn’t share my sentiments when it comes to the best nut butter out there. I’m pretty sure that means I was adopted…

So I’m terrible with desserts, I don’t like a lot of them, plus I eat Paleo so i haven’t figured out yet how to balance that with making any paleo desserts….
But I digress.. I’ve always eaten pumpkin seeds if that counts for eating pumpkin related things!

My mom used to make acorn squash all the time and I hated it! I hated a lot of the things I love today and I’m glad I did. I likely wouldn’t have the same love for them today! Instead I hate everything I loved back then (all the junk), which is good. 😉
Those boots … HOT! I need a pair!!

Came across your blog! LOVE.IT. Your fall decorations are beautiful and I too like earthy decorations. I like bringing the outdoors in. I can’t help you on the non-pumpkin dessert suggestion because I am currently in the midst of a pumpkin anything obsession. I eat anything and everything pumpkin. I just devoured an entire (minus one slice) pumpkin pie over the course of 3 days. I bought pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin butter and pumpkin bagels. {Somebody stop me.}

My parents never fed me squash growing up… like literally never! I didn’t try it for the first time until I had it at a restaurant well into my teen years. I can’t believe they deprived me of such deliciousness! Ah well, I’m definitely making up for it now.

Given how much you love pumpkin and squash, I can’t believe you don’t like pumpkin pie! It’s like pumpkin oatmeal… but so much richer and sweeter! Gah, I can’t wait until Monday haha. Maybe instead you could make an apple crisp? Or how about a pear upside-down cake?

I feel the same way about Thanksgiving desserts! Thankfully, my mom found the perfect solution: Kentucky Derby Pie. We make it every year – there’s a recipe on my blog, but it’s like pecan pie… but with chocolate chips and bourbon. That makes it not so ewwy-gooey and adds SO many more flavor layers.

Apple pie, lemon meringue pie, pumpkin apple streusel muffins, sweet potato casserole, cranberry bread are all desserts that we’ve had for Thanksgiving at one point or another («« I vote for the streusel muffins because those are flippin fantastic 😉 ).

We have many containers of those organic spices at home too, although admittedly only two are filled with cinnamon. Haha.

Before blogs I had never really considered squashes to be edible either! Kind of strange how they make up a big part of my diet now

We definitely ate pumpkin and squash growing up, but not as much as I do now. My mom is a fabulous cook, and they were fall/winter staples for us. Now I do so much more with these things, and get more creative, it’s cool because I share the recipes with my mom now!

That’s definitely awesome. I think my love for it rubbed off on my mom because guess what I found sitting on her counter the last time I was over there — kabocha! I’m not quite sure her level of adoration quite equals mine, but give me another month and I’ll have her converted 😉

SO deprived. Seriously, for-real-pumpkin, butternut and kabocha, even sweet potatoes – not part of my repertoire until adulthood. I kinda dig making up for lost time, though. 😉 And I love decorating with them (not so much the sweet taters) so it’s a total two-for-one. Your decor is very much on par with mine – natural, calm, soothing, and generally fall-inspired. It is a sweetly dangerous time of year for my wallet.

I didn’t grow up eating squash or pumpkin and I still don’t eat it all that often, unless I get something in my food share. That being said, I currently have a butternut squash, an acorn squash and a spaghetti squash hanging out on my counter. The butternut and acorn should be easy, but O have no idea what to do with the spaghetti squash, although I have been eyeing the spaghetti squash lasagna you linked to earlier in the week.

I’m digging your fall decorations (I swear you must get such amazing natural light at your place), I adore the ankle booties, and I want homemade donuts too. If you find a place that sells the pans, let me know because I’m going in.

Love the new boots! Even though I would TOTALLY break my ankles in them! Ha! And honey, you get absolutely no judgement from me on the cinnamon thing…I buy all my containers from Sam’s or Costco…and they usually last about two months! 😉 Your random facts are always the bets! Ohhh, the couch cushion fun I used to have as a kid…those were the days! And I really need to listen to the Imagine Dragons song now that I’m not reading from my phone like I was earlier this week!

I’m with you…totally deprived of all squashy goodness until discovering the blogging community a few years ago…such a shame! Obviously I have to make up for lost time now! 😉 LOVE doughnuts! My favorite has always been blueberry cake…unglazed…with coffee because dunking is NOT optional! And funny that you mentioned buying a doughnut pan…I bought one a couple of years ago, used it twice and haven’t brought it out since, but was JUST saying the other day about how I plan one dusting it off and playing around with some ideas soon! Hmm, good T-Day dessert that’s not pecan or pumpkin pie (can’t say I blame ya on not liking pecan pie…ugh, too sweet for me!)….how about a fudge pie…or a peanut butter pie…or a CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE?! 😀